Electronic device and method for recognizing the electronic device

ABSTRACT

An electronic device and a method for recognizing an electronic device are provided. The method includes transmitting a first packet including information associated with communication in a shorter range than a range that is set for short-range communication or receiving a second packet transmitted with low energy, determining a distance to the electronic device having transmitted the received second packet based on the information associated with the communication in the shorter range than the set range, when the information associated with the communication in the shorter range than the set range is included in the received second packet, and controlling a transmission power to transmit the first packet to be transmitted over the determined distance.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to KoreanPatent Application Serial number 10-2014-0135948, which was filed onOct. 8, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an electronic device and amethod for recognizing an electronic device located in a short range.

2. Description of the Related Art

An electronic device may communicate with other electronic deviceslocated in a short range. Short-range communication schemes in which anelectronic device may communicate with electronic devices includeBluetooth (BT), ZigBee, Wi-Fi, Near Field Communication (NFC), BluetoothLow Energy (BLE), and the like.

For short-range communication, each electronic device performs a pairingoperation. The pairing operation includes sending, by an electronicdevice, a short-range communication request message to anotherelectronic device and setting short-range communication upon receiving aresponse to the request message.

NFC, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technique, is anon-contact-type communication technique using a frequency band of 13.56MHz. According to NFC, if electronic devices recognize that they arelocated in close proximity to each other, they may communicate with eachother without having to perform the pairing operation.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Version 4.0, a low-energy protocol, is aBluetooth technique for simply and rapidly enabling a connection using asmall amount of data. BLE, developed as a low-energy protocol, has beenmainly used for sensor-based services, and may be used separately fromexisting Bluetooth protocols, such as Basic Rate (BR)/Enhanced Data Rate(EDR). In BLE, various profiles of low-energy protocols are defined,such that by using the BLE, a variety of services optimized for variouselectronic devices may be provided.

Assuming that electronic devices which are to perform short-rangecommunication are located in close proximity to each other, anelectronic device including a Bluetooth or BLE module may recognize, byusing a received signal, that another electronic device is located in ashort range. However, it may be difficult for the electronic device torecognize that another electronic device is located in close proximitythereto.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made to address at least the problems anddisadvantages described above, and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below.

Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides an electronicdevice and a method for recognizing the electronic device, in whichelectronic devices recognizes that they are located in close proximityto each other by using a short-range communication module.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an electronic deviceand a method for recognizing the electronic device, in which anelectronic device recognizes an advertising packet that is broadcastwith a low-energy transmission strength, thus recognizing that anelectronic device that broadcasts the advertising packet is located inclose proximity thereto.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is providedan electronic device including a communication unit including atransmitter configured to transmit a first packet including informationassociated with communication in a shorter range than a range set forshort-range communication, and a receiver configured to receive a secondpacket transmitted with low energy, an amplification unit configured toamplify a transmission power of a packet to be transmitted through thecommunication unit, and a controller configured to control theamplification unit for transmission of the first packet with atransmission power corresponding to the communication in the shorterrange than the set range, when the received second packet, from thecommunication unit, includes the information associated with thecommunication in the shorter range than the set range.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an electronic device including a communication unit configuredto transmit and receive a packet for short-range communication, anamplification unit configured to amplify a transmission power of atransmission packet to be transmitted through the communication unit,and a controller configured to incorporate information associated withcommunication in a shorter range than a range set for short-rangecommunication into the transmission packet and to control theamplification unit for transmission of the transmission packet with atransmission power corresponding to the communication in the shorterrange than the set range.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for recognizing an electronic device, the methodincluding transmitting a first packet including information associatedwith communication in a shorter range than a range that is set forshort-range communication or receiving a second packet transmitted withlow energy, determining a distance to the electronic device havingtransmitted the received second packet based on the informationassociated with the communication in the shorter range than the setrange, when the information associated with the communication in theshorter range than the set range is included in the received secondpacket, and controlling a transmission power to transmit a transmissionpacket to be transmitted over the determined distance.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for recognizing an electronic device, the methodincluding incorporating information associated with communication in ashorter range than a range set for short-range communication into atransmission packet to be transmitted, controlling a transmissionstrength to transmit the transmission packet with a transmission powercorresponding to the communication in the shorter range than the setrange, and determining that an electronic device having transmitted aresponse is located in the shorter range than the set range, uponreceiving the response to the transmission packet.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an electronic device including a communication moduleconfigured to perform short-range communication and a controllerconfigured to control the communication module to transmit at least onefirst signal for advertising with a first transmission strength and tocontrol the communication module to transmit at least one second signalwith a second transmission strength that is lower than the firsttransmission strength, in which the second signal comprises informationassociated with the second transmission strength.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an electronic device including a communication moduleconfigured to receive at least one first signal and at least one secondsignal for advertising, and to perform short-range communication and acontroller configured to control the communication module to receive thesecond signal when the first signal is not received, in which the firstsignal comprises information associated with a first transmissionstrength and the second signal comprises information associated with asecond transmission strength.

The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaningand/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” aswell as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within,interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with,couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave,juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a propertyof, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system orpart thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may beimplemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of atleast two of the same. It should be noted that the functionalityassociated with any particular controller may be centralized ordistributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain wordsand phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those ofordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not mostinstances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses ofsuch defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of embodiments ofthe present invention will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network environment including anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a short-range communication module of anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation performed by an electronic deviceafter packet reception, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation performed by an electronic deviceafter packet reception, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation performed by an electronic devicewhich transmits a packet, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an operation for communication between electronicdevices, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a Packet Data Unit (PDU) configuration, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a short-range communication module of anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a short-range communication module of anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a signal flow diagram between electronic devices, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an electronic device, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in relation to the accompanying drawings. The variousembodiments of the present invention may be changed in a variety of waysand may have a variety of embodiments, such that particular embodimentshave been illustrated in the drawings and a related detailed descriptionthereof will be provided below. However, this is not intended to limitthe various embodiments to particular embodiments, and should beunderstood that all changes, equivalents, or substitutes included in thespirit and technical scope of the present invention are included in thescope of the present invention. In regard to a description of thedrawings, like reference numerals will be used for like components.

The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaningand/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” aswell as derivatives thereof, mean to include, be included within,interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with,couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave,juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a propertyof, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system orpart thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may beimplemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of atleast two of the same. It should be noted that the functionalityassociated with any particular controller may be centralized ordistributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain wordsand phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those ofordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not mostinstances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses ofsuch defined words and phrases.

Terms “include” or “may include” used in various embodiments of thepresent invention indicate an existence of disclosed function,operation, or component, but do not limit an existence of one or moreother functions, operations, or components. Terms “include” or “has”used in the present disclosure should be understood to indicate anexistence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, item or anycombination thereof, disclosed in this specification, but should not beunderstood to exclude an existence of one or more other features,numbers, steps, operations, components, or any combination thereof orpossibility of adding those things.

The term “or” in various embodiments of the present invention includesany or every combination of listed terms. For example, “A or B” mayinclude either A or B, or both A and B.

Although ordinal numbers such as “first”, “second”, and so forth will beused to describe various components, those components are not limited bythe terms. For example, the terms do not limit the order and/orimportance of the components. The terms are used for distinguishing onecomponent from another component. For example, a first user device and asecond user device are both user devices, and indicate different userdevices. Also, a first component may be referred to as a secondcomponent and likewise, a second component may also be referred to as afirst component, without departing from the teaching of the presentinvention.

When it is said that a component is “connected” or “coupled” withanother component, the component may be directly connected with anothercomponent, or still another component may exist between the components.On the other hand, when it is said that a component is “directlyconnected” or “directly coupled” with another component, no componentexists between the components.

Terms used in various embodiments of the present invention are intendedto describe examples of the embodiments, rather than to limit thevarious embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, thesingular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in this specification within the contextof the relevant art as understood by one skilled in the art at the timeof the invention and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the presentinvention may be a device having a short-range communication function.For example, the electronic device may be a combination of one or moreof a smart phone, a tablet Personal Computer (PC), a mobile phone, avideo phone, an electronic book (e-book) reader, a desktop PC, a laptopPC, a netbook computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a PortableMultimedia Player (PMP), an MP3 player, mobile medical equipment, anelectronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronic appcessory, acamera, a wearable device (for example, a Head-Mounted Device (HMD),such as electronic glasses), an electronic cloth, an electronicbracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronic appcessory, anelectronic tattoo, and a smart watch.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, theelectronic device may be a smart home appliance having a short-rangecommunication function. The smart home appliance may include, forexample, a Television (TV), a Digital Video Disk (DVD) player, audioequipment, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, anoven, a microwave oven, a laundry machine, an air cleaner, a set-topbox, a TV box (for example, HomeSync™ of Samsung, TV™ of Apple, or TV™of Google), a game console, an electronic dictionary, an electronic key,a camcorder, and an electronic frame.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, theelectronic device may include at least one of various medical equipment(for example, Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Magnetic ResonanceImaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), an imaging device, or anultrasonic device), a navigation system, a Global Positioning System(GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR), a Flight Data Recorder(FDR), a vehicle infotainment device, electronic equipment for ships(for example, a navigation system and a gyro compass for ships),avionics, a security device, a vehicle head unit, an industrial or homerobot, an Automatic Teller's Machine (ATM), and a Point of Sales (POS).

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, theelectronic device may include a part of a furniture orbuilding/structure having a communication function, an electronic board,an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, and variousmeasuring instruments (for example, a water, electricity, gas, orelectric wave measuring device). The electronic device according tovarious embodiments of the present invention may be one of theabove-listed devices or a combination thereof. The electronic deviceaccording to various embodiments of the present invention may be aflexible device. It will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in theart that the electronic device according to various embodiments of thepresent invention is not limited to the above-listed devices.

The term “ultra-short distance (or ultra-short range)” used in variousembodiments of the present invention, to be described below, refers to ashorter range than a range in which communication is possible in generalshort-range communication, and is not intended to limit the range to aspecific distance or range.

The term “advertising packet” used in various embodiments of the presentinvention, to be described below, refers to a signal that is advertisedor broadcast to indicate existence of an electronic device in generalshort-range communication, and is not intended to limit the packet to aspecific packet.

Hereinafter, an electronic device according to various embodiments ofthe present invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. The term “user” used in various embodiments ofthe present invention may refer to a person who uses the electronicdevice or to a device using the electronic device (for example, anartificial intelligence electronic device).

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network environment including anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 101 includes at least one of abus 110, a processor 120, a memory 130, an Input/Output (I/O) interface140, a display 150, a communication interface 160, and a short-rangecommunication module 170.

The bus 110 is a circuit for interconnecting elements described aboveand for allowing communication (for example, a control message) betweenthe elements described above.

The processor 120 receives commands from the above-mentioned otherelements (for example, the memory 130, the I/O interface 140, thedisplay 150, the communication interface 160, or the short-rangecommunication module 170) through, for example, the bus 110, deciphersthe received commands, and performs operations or data processingaccording to the deciphered commands.

The memory 130 stores commands received from the processor 120 or otherelements (for example, the memory 130, the I/O interface 140, thedisplay 150, the communication interface 160, or the short-rangecommunication module 170) or commands or data generated by the processor120 or other elements. The memory 130 may include programming modules,such as a kernel 131, middleware 132, an Application ProgrammingInterface (API) 133, and an application 134. Each of the programmingmodules described above may be configured by software, firmware,hardware, or combinations of at least two of them.

The kernel 131 controls or manages system resources (for example, thebus 110, the processor 120, or the memory 130) used for execution ofoperations or functions implemented in the other programming modules,such as the middleware 132, the API 133, or the application 134.Further, the kernel 131 provides an interface through which themiddleware 132, the API 133, or the application 134 may access and thencontrol or manage an individual element of the electronic device 101.

The middleware 132 performs a relay function which allows the API 133 orthe application 134 to communicate with and exchange data with thekernel 131. Further, in relation to task requests received from theapplication 134, the middleware 132 may perform control (for example,scheduling or load balancing) with respect to the task requests by, forexample, giving a priority in using a system resource (for example, thebus 110, the processor 120, or the memory 130) of the electronic device101 to at least one application from among the applications 134.

The API 133 is an interface through which the application 134 controls afunction provided by the kernel 131 or the middleware 132, and mayinclude, for example, at least one interface or function (for example, acommand word) for file control, window control, image processing, orcharacter control, for example.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, theapplication 134 may include a Short Message Service (SMS)/MultimediaMessaging Service (MMS) application, an email application, a calendarapplication, an alarm application, a health care application (forexample, an application for measuring quantity of exercise or bloodsugar) or an environment information application (for example, anapplication for providing information on barometric pressure, humidity,or temperature). Additionally or alternatively, the application 134 maybe an application related to information exchange between the electronicdevice 101 and an external electronic device, for example, externalelectronic device 104. The application related to the informationexchange may include, for example, a notification relay application fortransferring particular information to the external electronic device ora device management application for managing the external electronicdevice.

For example, the notification relay application may include a functionof transmitting notification information generated by anotherapplication (for example, an SMS/MMS application, an email application,a health care application, or an environment information application) ofthe electronic device 101 to the external electronic device 104.Additionally or alternatively, the notification relay application mayreceive notification information from, for example, the externalelectronic device 104, and provide the received notification informationto the user. The device management application may manage (for example,install, remove, or update) functions of at least a part of the externalelectronic device 104, communicating with the electronic device 101 (forexample, turning on/off the external electronic device (or somecomponents of the external electronic device) or controlling abrightness (or resolution) of the display), an application executed inthe external electronic device 104, or a service (for example, a callservice or message service) provided in the external electronic device104.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, theapplication 134 may include an application designated according to anattribute (for example, a type of an electronic device) of the externalelectronic device 104. For example, when the external electronic device104 is an MP3 player, the application 134 may include an applicationrelated to music playback. Similarly, when the external electronicdevice 104 is a mobile medical device, the application 134 may includean application related to health care. According to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the application 134 may include at least one of anapplication designated to the electronic device 101 and an applicationreceived from an external electronic device (for example, the server 106or the external electronic device 104).

The I/O interface 140 delivers a command or data input from a userthrough an I/O device (for example, a sensor, a keyboard, or a touchscreen) to the processor 120, the memory 130, the communicationinterface 160, or the short-range communication module 170 through, forexample, the bus 110. For example, the I/O interface 140 may providedata regarding a user's touch input through the touch screen to theprocessor 120. The I/O interface 140 may output a command or datareceived from the processor 120, the memory 130, the communicationinterface 160, or the short-range communication module 170 through, forexample, the bus 110, through the I/O device (for example, the speakeror the display). For example, the I/O interface 140 may output voicedata processed through the processor 120 to the user through thespeaker.

The display module 150 displays various information (for example,multimedia data or text data) to the user.

The communication interface 160 may connect communication between theelectronic device 101 and the external electronic device 104 or theserver 106. For example, the communication interface 160 may beconnected to the network 162 through wireless communication or wiredcommunication to communicate with the external device. The wirelesscommunication may include at least one of Wi-Fi, BT, NFC, GPS, orcellular communication (Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A),Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division MultipleAccess (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS),Wireless Broadband (WiBro), or Global System for Mobile Communications(GSM)). The wired communication may include, for example, at least oneof a Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High Definition Multimedia Interface(HDMI), Recommended Standard (RS)-232, or a Plain Old Telephone Service(POTS).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the network 162 maybe a telecommunications network. The communication network may includeat least one of a computer network, Internet, Internet of Things, and atelephone network. According to an embodiment of the present invention,a protocol (for example, a transport layer protocol, a data link layerprotocol, or a physical layer protocol) for communication between theelectronic device 101 and an external device may be supported by atleast one of the application 134, the API 133, the middleware 132, thekernel 131, and the communication interface 160.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the short-rangecommunication module 170 may transmit and receive a signal forperforming short-range communication. A detailed embodiment of theshort-range communication module 170 will be described below withreference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a short-range communication module of anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a short-range communication module 200 includes acontroller 210, a packet processor 220, a packet generator 230, anamplification unit 240, and a communication unit 250.

The controller 210 controls the overall operation of the short-rangecommunication module 220. For example, the controller 210 controlssetting of packet transmission. The controller 210 sets a transmissionpower (or transmission energy) of a packet according to whether thepacket is to be transmitted over an ultra-short distance (or in anultra-short range). If the packet is a transmission packet to betransmitted in the ultra-short range, the controller 210 lowers thetransmission power of the packet to a set value for transmission.

For example, the controller 210 may check information of a receivedpacket. The controller 210 identifies a type of a Packet Data Unit (PDU)in a header of the packet to determine whether the packet has beentransmitted in the ultra-short range.

The PDU type field includes information for ultra-short-rangecommunication, but a type of a packet including information forultra-short-range communication and a field including the information inthe packet are not limited to a particular packet and a particular fieldof the packet.

For example, the controller 210 may control the electronic device 101 tosend a request for short-range communication to an external electronicdevice having transmitted the identified packet.

The packet processor 220 processes a packet received through thecommunication unit 250. Herein, the packet may be transmitted from atleast one electronic devices located in proximity to the electronicdevice 101 in the ultra-short range according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Herein, a distance between electronic devices locatedin proximity to each other in the ultra-short range is very short, suchthat the electronic devices may almost contact each other. For example,the ultra-short range may mean a distance between communication modulesof the electronic devices of about 5 cm-about 10 cm.

For example, if the packet processor 220 determines that informationindicating an ultra-short range PDU is included in the received packet,then the packet processor 220 may determine that an electronic devicehaving transmitted that packet is located in proximity in theultra-short range. The packet processor 220 informs the controller 210of existence of the electronic device located in proximity in theultra-short range. Subsequently, the controller 210 controls generationand transmission of a packet for performing communication with theelectronic device located in proximity in the ultra-short range.

The packet generator 230 generates a packet including informationindicating that the packet is to be transmitted to an electronic devicelocated in proximity in the ultra-short range.

The amplification unit 240 may include at least one amplifier. Theamplification unit 240 controls a transmission power of a packet byturning on/off the at least one amplifiers or adjusting an amplificationstrength. For example, if a specific packet is to be transmitted overthe ultra-short distance, the amplification unit 240 may turn on/off atleast one amplifier or adjusts an amplification gain to lower theamplification strength.

The communication unit 250 may also include a transmitter or a receiver.The communication unit 250 including the transmitter may transmit anadvertising packet with a set transmission strength. The communicationunit 250 including the receiver may receive a Low-Energy (LE)advertising packet which may be a packet transmitted by an electronicdevice with a minimum amount of energy, allowing transmission andreception in the ultra-short range after the electronic devicerecognizes that it is located in proximity to the electronic device 101in the ultra-short range.

For example, the electronic device 101 may include a communication unitconfigured to transmit and receive a packet for short-rangecommunication, an amplification unit configured to amplify atransmission power of a transmission packet to be transmitted throughthe communication unit, and a controller configured to control theamplification unit for transmission the transmission packet with atransmission power corresponding to communication in a shorter rangethan a set range, if a packet received through the communication unitincludes information associated with the communication in the shorterrange than the set range.

The packet for the short-range communication according to variousembodiments of the present invention may be an advertising packet. Theinformation may be included in a Packet Data Unit (PDU) type fieldincluded in a packet header.

The controller 210 controls a transmission power by turning on or offthe amplification unit 240. The controller 210 may control thetransmission power of the transmission packet by controlling anamplification strength of the amplification unit 240 with at least oneamplification gain selected from among a plurality of amplificationgains. The controller 210 may select the at least one amplification gaindifferently for each transmission. The controller may determine adistance over which transmission of the transmission packet is possiblebased on the at least one different amplification gain.

For example, the electronic device 101 may include a communication unitconfigured to transmit and receive a packet for short-rangecommunication, an amplification unit configured to amplify atransmission power of a transmission packet to be transmitted throughthe communication unit, and a controller configured to incorporateinformation associated with communication in a shorter range than arange that is set for short-range communication into the transmissionpacket and to control the amplification unit for transmission of thetransmission packet with a transmission power corresponding to thecommunication in the shorter range than the set range.

The electronic device 101 also includes the short-range communicationmodule 200 configured to perform short-range communication and acontroller 210 configured to control the communication module totransmit at least one first signal for advertising with a firsttransmission strength and to control the short-range communicationmodule 200 to transmit at least one second signal with a secondtransmission strength that is lower than the first transmissionstrength, in which the second signal includes information associatedwith the second transmission strength.

The short-range communication module 200 may include a BLE protocol.

The information associated with the second transmission strength may beincluded in a header of a PDU included in the second signal.

The controller 210 controls the short-range communication module 200 totransmit a third signal with a third transmission strength that is lowerthan the second transmission strength when the at least one first signalor the at least one second signal is not transmitted, and informationassociated with the third transmission strength may be included in aheader of a PDU included in the third signal.

The controller 210 controls pairing with an external electronic device104 in response to reception of the third signal, if determining throughthe short-range communication module 200 that the third signal isreceived with the second transmission strength from the externalelectronic device 104.

The electronic device 101 includes the short-range communication module200 configured to receive at least one first signal and at least onesecond signal for advertising, and to perform short-range communicationand a controller 210 configured to control the short-range communicationmodule 200 to receive the second signal when the first signal is notreceived, in which the first signal comprises information associatedwith a first transmission strength and the second signal comprisesinformation associated with a second transmission strength.

The controller 210 controls pairing with an external electronic devicehaving transmitted the second signal in response to reception of thesecond signal, if determining through the communication module that thesecond signal has been received.

The controller 210 controls the communication module to transmit atleast one third signal with the second transmission strength in responseto reception of the second signal, if determining through thecommunication module that the second signal has been received.

The controller 210 controls the short-range communication module 200 toreceive at least one third signal having a third transmission strengththat is lower than the first transmission strength and is higher thanthe second transmission strength, when the first signal or the secondsignal is not received, and information associated with the thirdtransmission strength may be included in a header of a PDU included inthe third signal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation performed by the electronic deviceafter packet reception, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step 310, the electronic device 101 receives apacket.

If ultra-short-range PDU information is identified in the receivedpacket, the electronic device 101 determines that an electronic devicehaving transmitted the received packet is located in proximity to theelectronic device 101 in the ultra-short-range in step 320.

In step 330, the electronic device 101 performs ultra-short-rangecommunication with the electronic device having transmitted the receivedpacket. For example, the electronic device 101 sets a transmission powerof a packet to be transmitted to the electronic device havingtransmitted the received packet to a minimum value.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation performed by an electronic deviceafter packet reception, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step 410, the electronic device 101 receives apacket.

In step 420, the electronic device 101 checks information of thereceived packet. The received packet may include information foridentifying whether the packet has been transmitted over the ultra-shortrange. For example, the electronic device 101 checks a header of thereceived packet to determine whether the received packet includesultra-short range PDU information.

If the ultra-short-range PDU information is identified in the receivedpacket in step 430, the electronic device 101 generates a packet forrequesting communication connection in step 440.

In step 450, the electronic device 101 sets a transmission strength ofthe generated packet. The electronic device 101 sets the transmissionstrength of the generated packet for requesting communication connectionto minimum power (or energy) that enables transmission and reception inthe ultra-short range for the received packet.

In step 460, the electronic device 101 transmits the generated packetwith the set transmission strength.

For example, a method for recognizing an electronic device includestransmitting a first packet including information associated withcommunication in a shorter range than a range that is set forshort-range communication or receiving a second packet transmitted withlow energy, determining a distance to an electronic device havingtransmitted the received packet based on the information associated withthe communication in the shorter range than the set range, if theinformation associated with the communication in the shorter range thanthe set range is included in the received packet, and controlling atransmission power to transmit a transmission packet to be transmittedover the determined distance.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation performed by an electronic devicewhich transmits a packet, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in step 510, the electronic device 101 determineswhether to transmit a packet for ultra-short-range communication. Forexample, the electronic device 101 may determine to transmit the packetfor ultra-short-range communication if desiring to perform short-rangecommunication with an electronic device located in proximity to theelectronic device 101 in the ultra-short range.

If the electronic device 101 desires to transmit the packet to theproximate electronic device located in the ultra-short range, then instep 530, the electronic device 101 incorporates ultra-short-range PDUinformation into the transmission packet (for example, a header of thepacket). For example, the ultra-short-range PDU information may indicatethat the packet is to be transmitted in the ultra-short range.

In step 540, the electronic device 101 sets a transmission strength ofthe transmission packet. The transmission strength set for thetransmission packet may be set according to whether the packet is to betransmitted over the ultra-short distance or not. The packet includingthe ultra-short-range PDU information may be a packet to be transmittedusing minimum power.

In step 550, the electronic device 101 transmits the transmission packetwith the set transmission strength.

For example, a method for recognizing an electronic device includesincorporating information associated with communication in a shorterrange than a range that is set for short-range communication into atransmission packet to be transmitted, controlling a transmissionstrength to transmit the packet with a transmission power correspondingto the communication the shorter range than the set range, anddetermining that an electronic device having transmitted a response islocated in the shorter range than the set range, upon receiving theresponse to the packet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an operation for communication between electronicdevices, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step 610, a first electronic device 601broadcasts an LE packet. It is assumed that a second electronic device602 identifies the LE packet broadcast from the first electronic device601. The LE packet may be a packet for which a transmission strength isset to minimum power. The LE packet may be set to minimum power as theLE packet includes ultra-short-range PDU information indicating that thepacket is to be transmitted over the ultra-short distance.

In step 610, if receiving an LE packet, the second electronic device 602determines that ultra-short-range communication with the firstelectronic device 601 is possible.

In step 615, the second electronic device 602 identifiesultra-short-range PDU information included in the broadcast packet. Forexample, the second electronic device 602 may determine that the packethas been transmitted over the ultra-short distance.

In step 620, the second electronic device 602 broadcasts anultra-short-range PDU to the first electronic device 601. For example,the ultra-short-range PDU may be transmitted after the second electronicdevice 602 determines whether ultra-short-range communication issupported. The second electronic device 602 may set a transmissionstrength for transmission of the ultra-short-range PDU to minimum powercorresponding to the transmission strength of the ultra-short-range PDUtransmitted from the first electronic device 601.

In step 625, the first electronic device 601 sets ultra-short-rangecommunication. For example, if identifying the ultra-short-range PDUpacket broadcast from the second electronic device 602, the firstelectronic device 601 sets ultra-short-range communication with thesecond electronic device 602 having transmitted the request forcommunication connection.

In step 630, the first electronic device 601 sends a request forultra-short-range communication connection to the second electronicdevice 602. For example, the request for ultra-short-range communicationconnection may be made as the first electronic device 601 setsultra-short-range communication. According to various embodiments of thepresent invention, the first electronic device 601 sets a transmissionstrength in sending the request for ultra-short-range communicationconnection to minimum power. Although not shown, upon receiving therequest for ultra-short-range communication connection from the firstelectronic device 601, the second electronic device 602 may completesetting of ultra-short-range communication with the first electronicdevice 601.

In step 640, the first electronic device 601 and the second electronicdevice 602 are connected by ultra-short-range communication through ashort-range communication module.

FIG. 7 illustrates a Packet Data Unit (PDU) configuration, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a PDU packet 700 may include a header field 710 anda payload field 720. In the PDU packet 700, the header field 710 may beincluded in a Least Significant Bit (LSB) and the payload field 720 maybe included in a Most Significant Bit (MSB).

The header field 710 may include information associated with transmitteddata. The payload field 720 includes the transmitted data correspondingto the header field 710.

The header field 710 may include at least one data fields of a PDU Typefield 711, a Reserved for Future Use (RFU) field 712 or 716, a TxAddfield 713, an RxAdd field 714, and a length information field 715.

The PDU type field 711 may be a field indicating a type of a PDU. Forexample, a PDU type that may be indicated by the PDU type field 711 isas provided below.

TABLE 1 PDU Type Packet Name 0000 ADV_IND 0001 ADV_DIRECT_IND 0010ADV_NONCONN_IND 0011 SCAN_REQ 0100 SCAN_RSP 0101 CONNECT_REQ 0110ADV_SCAN_IND 0111-1111 Reserved

Referring to Table 1, a number corresponding to the PDU type may beincluded in the PDU type field 711. The number may identify a packetname corresponding to the PDU type. For example, electronic device 101may check the PDU type field 711 to determine whether a valuecorresponding to “0111-1111” is included therein. That is, theelectronic device 101 may determine whether the PDU type field 711 isset to “Reserved”.

The electronic device 101 sets a value among “0111-1111” based ontransmission power used in transmission of the PDU packet 700.

RFU 712 and 716 may be reserved fields.

TxAdd 713 and RxAdd 714 are included in the PDU type field 711 toidentify the PDU packet 700 as a packet for transmission or a packet forreception.

The length information field 715 includes length information of thepayload field 720.

For example, the electronic device 101 may identify a received PDU todetermine whether the PDU type field 711 has a value that is set forultra-short-range communication among values set to “Reserved”. Ifdetermining that the value of the PDU type field 711 is set forultra-short-range communication, the electronic device determines thatthe received packet has been received in the ultra-short range. Thetransmission power of the PDU packet may be determined according to thevalue set to “Reserved”.

For example, by differently setting the value set to “Reserved”, adistance in ultra-short-range communication may be identified.

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a normal LE advertising PDU800, may be broadcastcontinuously at predetermined points in time or at predetermined timeintervals, for example, t₁, t₂, t₃, etc. The electronic device 101 maytransmit an ultra-short-distance advertising PDU 801 with minimumtransmission power in an empty time period between the time intervals.

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, a normal LE advertising PDU, 900 may be broadcastat predetermined time intervals, for example, t₁, t₂, t₃, etc. Forexample, the electronic device 101 transmits the normal LE advertisingPDU 900 with a transmission strength of 10 dBm. Meanwhile, depending ona structure of the electronic device 101 or setting of an antenna, thetransmission strength of the normal LE advertising PDU 900 identified byan external electronic device 104 may be measured as 5-7 dBm.

The electronic device 101 may broadcast an ultra-short-range advertisingPDU (or an ultra-short distance advertising PDU) at new time intervals,for example, t₅, t₁₀, t₁₅, . . . , in the predetermined time intervals.For example, the electronic device 101 may broadcast anultra-short-range advertising PDU 901, instead of a normal LEadvertising PDU, at t₅. The electronic device 101 may transmit theultra-short-range advertising PDU 901 with a transmission strength of−75 dBm.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the ultra-short-distance advertising PDU mayinclude, in the PDU type field 711, information indicating that the PDUis to be transmitted over the ultra-short distance or transmissionstrength information of the PDU. For example, a device having receivedthe ultra-short-range advertising PDU may recognize that the PDU hasbeen transmitted with a lower transmission strength than a minimumtransmission strength or a transmission strength of a packet to betransmitted in normal short-range communication.

The ultra-short-range advertising PDU 801 or 901 includes transmissionstrength information of a PDU in the PDU type field 711. A device havingreceived the ultra-short-range advertising PDU 801 or 901 may recognizethe transmission strength of the PDU.

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, a normal LE advertising PDU 1000, may be broadcastcontinuously at predetermined time intervals, for example, t₁, t₂, t₃,etc. Electronic device 101 transmits an ultra-short-distance advertisingPDU 1001, 1002, or 1003, in an empty time period between the timeintervals.

The ultra-short-range advertising PDU 1001, 1002, or 1003 includestransmission strength information of the PDU in a PDU type field 711. Adevice having received the ultra-short-range advertising PDU 1001, 1002,or 1003, may identify the transmission strength of the PDU.

The electronic device 101 successively increases the transmissionstrength to broadcast each of the ultra-short-range advertising PDUs,for example, the first ultra-short-range advertising PDU 1001, thesecond ultra-short-range advertising PDU 1002, and the thirdultra-short-range advertising PDU 1003.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the first ultra-short-rangeadvertising PDU 1001 is transmitted with a first transmission strength,the second ultra-short-range advertising PDU 1002 is transmitted with asecond transmission strength, and the third ultra-short-rangeadvertising PDU 1003 is transmitted with a third transmission strength.

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, a normal LE advertising PDU 1100 is advertised atpredetermined time intervals, for example, t₁, t₂, t₃, etc. Theelectronic device 101, may broadcast an ultra-short-range advertisingPDU at new time intervals, for example, t₅, t₁₀, t₁₅, . . . in thepredetermined intervals. For example, the electronic device 101 maybroadcast an ultra-short-range advertising PDU 1101 instead of thenormal LE advertising PDU at t₅.

The electronic device 101 successively increases the transmissionstrength to broadcast each of the ultra-short-range advertising PDUs1101, 1102, or 1103.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the ultra-short-range advertising PDU1101, 1102, or 1103 incorporates transmission strength information ofthe PDU in the PDU type field 711. The electronic device 101, havingreceived the ultra-short-range advertising PDU 1101, 1102, or 1103 mayidentify the transmission strength of the PDU. Electronic devicestransmitting and receiving a PDU may know in advance the transmissionstrength of the PDU and a distance over which transmission is possible.Thus, the electronic device 101 may expect a distance to an electronicdevice having transmitted the PDU, by checking the transmission strengthof the PDU.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a short-range communication module of anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, a short-range communication module 1200 mayinclude a short-range communication controller 1210, a packet generator1220, at least one amplifier (AMPs), for example, a first AMP 1231, asecond AMP 1232, and a third AMP 1233, a mixer 1240, and an antenna ANT1250.

The short-range communication controller 1210 controls the overalloperation of the short-range communication module 1200. The short-rangecommunication controller 1210 transmits a PDU selection signal to thepacket generator 1220 to control the packet generator 1220 to generate aselected PDU. The short-range communication controller 1210 controls atleast one AMP, for example, the second AMP 1232, to set a transmissionstrength for transmission of the PDU.

At least one of the first AMP 1231, the second AMP 1232, and the thirdAMP 1233, may amplify the transmission strength of an input PDU. Theshort-range communication controller 1210 may set a transmissionstrength by setting an amplification value of a particular AMP orturning off a particular AMP.

The mixer 1240 mixes at least one transmission packet input from atleast one AMP to deliver the mixed packet to the antenna 1250.

The antenna 1250 then transmits the PDU with the transmission strengthamplified by the mixer 1240 or at least one AMP, for example, the firstAMP 1231, the second AMP 1232, and the third AMP 1233.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a short-range communication module of anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, a short-range communication controller 1300includes a transmission strength controller 1310 and a signal generator1320.

The transmission strength controller 1310 may store transmissionstrength information for short-range communication 1311 and transmissionstrength information for ultra-short-range communication 1312.Information regarding each list may be stored as a transmission strengthfor short-range transmission or ultra-short-range transmission based onpreviously stored transmission timing information which is generated bya signal generator 1320.

The transmission strength controller 1310 outputs a transmissionstrength control signal based on the transmission strength informationfor short-range communication 1311 and the transmission strengthinformation for ultra-short-range communication 1312. A short-rangecommunication module, for example, the short-range communication module200 or 1200, controls a transmission strength for a PDU based on thetransmission strength control signal.

FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a timing for a PDU transmission in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, at predetermined time intervals, for example, t₁,t₂, t₃, etc., BR/EDR PDUs 1402 or normal LE advertising PDUs 1403 arebroadcast alternately.

In a repeated empty time period between the intervals, anultra-short-range advertising PDU 1401 may be broadcast. For example, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 13, the ultra-short-range advertisingPDU 1401 is transmitted in the empty time period according to a controlsignal of the transmission strength controller 1310.

FIG. 15 is a signal flow diagram between electronic devices, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, a first electronic device 1500 and a secondelectronic device 1505 are assumed to be located in proximity to eachother in the ultra-short-range. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 15,a description will be made of an example in which each electronic deviceidentifies the other electronic device located in proximity to eachother in the ultra-short-range.

The first electronic device 1500 may include a Central Processing Unit(CPU) 1501 and a short-range communication module 1502. The CPU 1501controls the overall operation of the first electronic device 1500, andstarts an ultra-short-range sensing operation in step 1510. Thus, theCPU 1501 sets an ultra-short-range PDU in step 1512. In theultra-short-range PDU, a PDU type field 711 may be set as a “Reserved”field.

In step 1514, the CPU 1501 delivers an advertising start command to theshort-range communication module 1502. In step 1516, the CPU 1501delivers a scanning start command to the short-range communicationmodule 1502. Thus, in step 1518, the short-range communication module1502 initiates advertising and scanning start operations. For example,the CPU 1501 may periodically broadcast an ultra-short-range PDU.

In step 1519, the second electronic device 1505 recognizes that theultra-short-range PDU is advertised. For example, the ultra-short-rangePDU identified by the second electronic device 1505 may includeinformation indicating that the PDU has been transmitted over theultra-short distance.

In step 1521 a, the second electronic device 1505 advertises theultra-short-range PDU as identifying the information indicating that thePDU has been transmitted over the ultra-short distance. In this case, itis assumed that the short-range communication module 1502 of the firstelectronic device 1500 recognizes the ultra-short-range PDU due to step1521 a. For example, as identifying the ultra-short-range PDU, the firstelectronic device 1500 may determine that the second electronic device1505 is located in proximity to the first electronic device 1500 in theultra-short range.

In step 1522, the short-range communication module 1502 senses that theultra-short-range PDU is advertised. Thus, the CPU 1501 may determinethat the second electronic device 1505 is located in the ultra-shortrange.

In step 1521 b, the second electronic device 1505 further advertises theultra-short-range PDU. Upon sensing that the ultra-short-range PDU isadvertised, the short-range communication module 1502 may not operatewith respect to a later identified ultra-short-range PDU.

In step 1524, as sensing that the ultra-short-range PDU is advertised,the CPU 1501 controls the short-range communication module 1502 toperform short-range communication connection. For example, theshort-range communication module 1502 is wirelessly connected with thesecond electronic device 1505 for short-range communication.

If connection of the short-range communication with the secondelectronic device 1505 is confirmed, then the short-range communicationmodule 1502 informs the CPU 1501 of the connection of the short-rangecommunication in step 1532.

In step 1534, the CPU 1501 instructs the short-range communicationmodule 1502 to stop PDU advertisement. In step 1536, the CPU 1501instructs the short-range communication module 1502 to stop PDUscanning.

In step 1540, it is assumed that short-range communication between thefirst electronic device 1500 and the second electronic device 1505 isdisconnected. Thus, the short-range communication module 1502 determinesthat a distance between the connected electronic devices increases. Instep 1542, the short-range communication module 1502 informs the CPU1501 of disconnection, and thus the CPU 1501 determines that thedistance between the connected electronic devices increases.

In step 1544, the CPU 1501 delivers an advertising start command to theshort-range communication module 1502. In step 1546, the CPU 1501delivers a scanning start command to the short-range communicationmodule 1502.

At least one of the steps illustrated in FIG. 15 may be omitted, and atleast one other steps may be added between the operations illustrated inFIG. 15. The steps illustrated in FIG. 15 may be processed in theillustrated order, and the execution order of at least one steps may beexchanged with that of other steps.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an electronic device, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 16, an electronic device 1601 may include a whole or apart of, for example, the electronic device 101 illustrated in FIG. 1.The electronic device 1601 may include one or more ApplicationProcessors (APs) 1610, a communication module 1620, a SubscriberIdentification Module (SIM) card 1624, a memory 1630, a sensor module1640, an input device 1650, a display 1660, an interface 1670, an audiomodule 1680, a camera module 1691, a power management module 1695, abattery 1696, an indicator 1697, and a motor 1698.

The AP 1610 controls multiple hardware or software components connectedto the AP 1610 and processes various data including multimedia data orperforms operations, by driving an OS or an application program. The AP1610 may be implemented, for example, with a System on Chip (SoC). TheAP 1610 may further include a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU).

The communication module 1620 (for example, the communication interface160, as shown in FIG. 1) performs data transmission and reception incommunication between the electronic device 1601 (for example, theelectronic device 101) and other electronic devices connected over anetwork (for example, the external electronic device 104 or the server106). According to an embodiment, the communication module 1620 mayinclude the cellular module 1621, a Wi-Fi module 1623, a Bluetooth (BT)module 1625, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module 1627, a Near FieldCommunication (NFC) module 1628, and a Radio Frequency (RF) module 1629.

The cellular module 1621 provides voice communication, videocommunication, a text service, or an Internet service over acommunication network (for example, LTE, LTE-A, CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS,WiBro, GSM, or the like). The cellular module 1621 performsidentification and authentication with respect to the electronic device1601 in a communication network by using a subscriber identificationmodule (for example, the SIM card 1624). The cellular module 1621 mayperform at least some of functions that are provided by the AP 1610. Forexample, the cellular module 1621 may perform at least a part of amultimedia control function.

The cellular module 1621 may include a Communication Processor (CP). Thecellular module 1621 may be implemented with, for example, an SoC. InFIG. 16, elements of the cellular module 1621 (for example, acommunication processor), the memory 1630, or the power managementmodule 1695 are illustrated as being separate from the AP 1610, but theAP 1610 may be implemented to include at least some (for example, thecellular module 1621) of the above-described elements.

The AP 1610 or the cellular module 1621 (for example, a communicationprocessor) loads a command or data received from a nonvolatile memoryconnected thereto or at least one of other components into a volatilememory to process the command or data. The AP 1610 or the cellularmodule 1621 receives data from at least one of other components orstores data generated by at least one of other components in thenonvolatile memory.

Each of the Wi-Fi module 1623, the BT module 1625, the GPS module 1627,and the NFC module 1628 may include a processor for processingtransmitted and received data. Although the cellular module 1621, theWi-Fi module 1623, the BT module 1625, the GPS module 1627, and the NFCmodule 1628 are illustrated as separate blocks in FIG. 16, at least some(for example, two or more) of the cellular module 1621, the Wi-Fi module1623, the BT module 1625, the GPS module 1627, and the NFC module 1628may be integrated into a single Integrated Chip (IC) or IC package. Forexample, at least some of processors corresponding to the cellularmodule 1621, the Wi-Fi module 1623, the BT module 1625, the GPS module1627, and the NFC module 1628, respectively, may be implemented as asingle SoC.

The RF module 1629 transmits and receives, for example, an RF signal.The RF module 1629 may include, for example, a transceiver, a Power AmpModule (PAM), a frequency filter, or a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA),although not shown. The RF module 1629 may further include an elementfor transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves on the free spacein wireless communication, for example, a conductor or a conductivewire. The cellular module 1621, the Wi-Fi module 1623, the BT module1625, the GPS module 1627, and the NFC module 1628 share the single RFmodule 1629 in FIG. 16, but according to another embodiment of thepresent invention, at least one of the cellular module 1621, the Wi-Fimodule 1623, the BT module 1625, the GPS module 1627, and the NFC module1628 transmits and receives an RF signal through a separate RF module.

The SIM card 1624 may be a card including a SIM and may be inserted intoa slot formed in a particular position of the electronic device. The SIMcard 1624 may include unique identification information (for example, anIntegrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID)) or subscriber information(for example, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)).

The memory 1630 (for example, the memory 130) may include an embeddedmemory 1632 or an external memory 1634. The embedded memory 1632 mayinclude, for example, at least one of a volatile memory (for example, aDynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) or Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM),a nonvolatile memory (for example, an One Time Programmable ROM(OTPROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable and Programmable ROM(EPROM), an Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a maskROM, a flash ROM, a NAND flash memory, and a NOR flash memory.

The embedded memory 1632 may be a Solid State Drive (SSD). The externalmemory 1634 may further include a flash drive, for example, a CompactFlash (CF), a Secure Digital (SD), a micro-Secure Digital (SD), amini-SD, an Extreme Digital (xD), or a memory stick. The external memory1634 may be functionally connected with the electronic device 1601through various interfaces. The electronic device 1601 may furtherinclude a storage device (or a storage medium) such as a hard drive.

The sensor module 1640 measures a physical amount or senses an operationstate of the electronic device 1601 to convert the measured or sensedinformation into an electric signal. The sensor module 1640 may include,for example, at least one of a gesture sensor 1640A, a gyro sensor1640B, an atmospheric sensor 1640C, a magnetic sensor 1640D, anacceleration sensor 1640E, a grip sensor 1640F, a proximity sensor1640G, a color sensor 1640H (for example, a Red, Green, Blue (RGB)sensor), a biometric sensor 1640I, a temperature/humidity sensor 1640J,an illumination sensor 1640K, an Ultra Violet (UV) sensor 1640L, and atouch sensor 1640M. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor module1640 may further include an E-nose sensor, an Electromyography (EMG)sensor, an ElectroEncephaloGram (EEG) sensor, an ElectroCardioGram (ECG)sensor, an Infrared (IR) sensor, an iris sensor, or a fingerprintsensor. The sensor module 1640 may further include a control circuit forcontrolling at least one sensors included therein.

The input device 1650 may include a touch panel 1652, a (digital) pensensor 1654, a key 1656, or an ultrasonic input device 1658.

The touch panel 1652 may recognize a touch input by using at least oneof a capacitive type, a resistive type, an IR type, and an ultrasonictype. The touch panel 1652 may further include a control circuit. Thecapacitive-type touch panel 1652 may perform physical contactrecognition or proximity recognition. The touch panel 1652 may furtherinclude a tactile layer. In this case, the touch panel 1652 is able toprovide tactile reaction to a user.

The (digital) pen sensor 1654 may be implemented by using a method thatis the same as or similar to a method for receiving a user's touchinput, or by using a separate recognition sheet.

The key 1656 may include, for example, a physical button, an opticalkey, or a keypad.

The ultrasonic input device 1658 may sense audio waves and checks datathrough a microphone (MIC) (for example, a MIC 1688) in the electronicdevice 1601 through an input means for generating an ultrasonic signal,and may perform wireless recognition. According to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the electronic device 1601 may receive a user inputfrom an external device (for example, a computer or a server) connectedthereto by using the communication module 1620.

The display 1660 (for example, the display 150) may include a panel1662, a hologram device 1664, or a projector 1666.

The panel 1662 may be, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or anActive Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (AMOLED). The panel 1662 maybe implemented as, for example, being flexible, transparent, orwearable. The panel 1662 may be configured as a single module with thetouch panel 1652. The hologram device 1664 shows a cubic image in theair by using interference of light. The projector 1666 displays an imageby projecting light onto a screen that may be positioned, for example,inside or outside the electronic device 1601. The display 1660 mayfurther include a control circuit for controlling the panel 1662, thehologram device 1664, or the projector 1666.

The interface 1670 may include a High-Definition Multimedia Interface(HDMI) 1672, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 1674, an optical interface1676, and a D-subminiature (sub) 1678. The interface 1670 may beincluded in, for example, the interface 17 illustrated in FIG. 1.Additionally or alternatively, the interface 1670 may include, forexample, a Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) interface, a Secure Digital(SD) card/Multi-Media Card (MMC) interface, or an Infrared DataAssociation (IrDA) standard interface.

The audio module 1680 interchangeably converts sound and an electricsignal. At least some components of the audio module 1680 may beincluded in, for example, the I/O interface 140 illustrated in FIG. 1.The audio module 1680 processes sound information that is input oroutput through the speaker 1682, the receiver 1684, the earphone 1686,or the microphone 1688.

The camera module 1691 is a device capable of capturing a still imageand a moving image, and may include one or more image sensors (forexample, a front sensor or a rear sensor), a lens, an ISP, or a flash(for example, an LED or a xenon lamp).

The power management module 1695 manages power of the electronic device1601. According to an embodiment, the power management module 1695 mayinclude, for example, a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC), acharger IC, or a battery gauge.

The PMIC may be mounted in, for example, an IC or an SoC semiconductor.A charging scheme may be classified into a wired charging scheme and awireless charging scheme. The charging IC may charge a battery andprevents over-voltage or over-current from being introduced from acharging device. The charging IC may include a charging IC for at leastone of the wired charging scheme and the wireless charging scheme. Thewireless charging scheme may include, for example, a magnetic resonancescheme, a magnetic induction scheme, or an electromagnetic wave scheme,and an additional circuit for wireless charging, for example, a coilloop, a resonance circuit, or a rectifier may be further included.

The battery gauge measures the remaining capacity of the battery 1696,and a voltage, a current, or a temperature of the battery 1696 duringcharging.

The battery 1696 may store or generate electricity, and supply power tothe electronic device 1601 by using the stored or generated electricity.The battery 1696 may include, for example, a rechargeable battery and/ora solar battery.

The indicator 1697 displays a specific state, such as a booting state, amessage state, or a charging state, of the electronic device 1601 or apart thereof (for example, the AP 1610).

The motor 1698 converts an electric signal into mechanical vibration.

A processing device (for example, a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU)) forsupporting a mobile TV may be included in the electronic device 1601.The processing device for supporting the mobile TV processes media datacomplying with the standard such as Digital Multimedia Broadcasting(DMB), Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), or a media flow.

The foregoing elements of the electronic device according to variousembodiments of the present invention may include one or more components,and a name of an element may vary according to a type of the electronicdevice. The electronic device according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may include at least one of the foregoing elements,and some of them may be omitted from the electronic device or otherelements may be further included in the electronic device. Also, some ofthe elements of the electronic device according to various embodimentsof the present invention may be combined into one entity to perform thesame function as those of the elements that have not been combined.

The term “module” used in various embodiments of the present inventionmay mean a unit including a combination of one or more of hardware,software, and firmware. The “module” may be interchangeably used with aterm such as a unit, logic, a logical block, a component, or a circuit.The “module” may be a minimum unit of parts formed integrally as onepiece or a part thereof. The “module” may be a minimum unit thatperforms one or more functions or a part of the minimum unit. The“module” may be mechanically or electronically implemented. For example,the “module” according to various embodiments of the present inventionmay include at least one of an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC) chip, Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and aprogrammable-logic device that are well-known or to be developed, whichperform certain operations.

At least a part of a device (for example, modules or functions thereof)or a method (for example, operations) according to various embodimentsof the present invention may be implemented with a command stored in,for example, a computer-readable storage medium in the form of aprogramming module. When the command is executed by one or moreprocessors (for example, the processor 120), the one or more processorsmay perform a function corresponding to the command. Thecomputer-readable storage medium may be, for example, the memory 130. Atleast a part of the programming module may be implemented (for example,executed) by the processor 120. At least a part of the programmingmodule may include at least one of a module, a program, a routine, setsof instructions, and a process to perform one or more functions.

The computer-readable storage medium may include magnetic media such asa hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape optical media such as aCompact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) and a Digital Versatile Disc(DVD), magneto-optical media such as a floptical disk, and a hardwaredevice specially configured to store and execute a program command (forexample, a programming module) such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), aRandom Access Memory (RAM), and a flash memory. The program command mayinclude not only a mechanical language code generated by a compiler, butalso a high-level language code that may be executed by a computer usingan interpreter. The hardware device may be configured to operate as oneor more software modules for performing operations or vice versa,according to various embodiments of the present invention.

A module or programming module according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may include at least one of the foregoing components,or some of the foregoing components may be omitted or other componentsmay be further included. Operations executed by a module, a programmingmodule, or other components according to various embodiments of thepresent invention may be performed sequentially, in parallel,repetitively, or heuristically. Some operations may be executed inanother order or may be omitted, or other operations may be added.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, in a storagemedium having commands stored therein, the commands are set for at leastone processors to perform at least one operations, when executed by theat least one processors, and the at least one operations includetransmitting a first packet including information associated withcommunication in a shorter range than a range that is set forshort-range communication or receiving a second packet transmitted withlow energy, determining a distance to an electronic device havingtransmitted the received packet based on the information associated withthe communication in the shorter range than the set range, if theinformation associated with the communication in the shorter range thanthe set range is included in the received packet, and controlling atransmission power to transmit a transmission packet to be transmittedover the determined distance.

The electronic device and the method for recognizing the electronicdevice, according to various embodiments of the present invention, mayrecognize that electronic devices are located very close to each other,and while using an existing technique for communicating in a relativelywide range, another communication channel for communicating in anultra-short range may be generated.

Other effects that may be obtained or expected from the embodiments ofthe present invention are explicitly or implicitly disclosed in thedetailed description of the embodiment of the present invention. Forexample, various effects expected from the embodiments of the presentinvention have been disclosed in the detailed description of the presentinvention.

The embodiments of the present invention provided in the presentspecification and the drawings merely provide particular examples toeasily describe the technical contents of the present invention and tofacilitate understanding of the present invention, rather than to limitthe scope of the embodiments of the present invention. Thus, the scopeof the embodiments of the present invention should be construed asincluding any changes or modifications derived from the technical spiritof the embodiments of the present invention as well as the embodimentsdescribed herein. Therefore, the scope of the present invention isdefined, not by the detailed description of the embodiments, but by thefollowing claims and their equivalents, and all differences within thescope will be construed as being included in the present inventiveconcept.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a communicationunit comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a first packetincluding information associated with communication in a shorter rangethan a range set for short-range communication, and a receiverconfigured to receive a second packet transmitted with low energy; anamplification unit configured to amplify a transmission power of apacket to be transmitted through the communication unit; and acontroller configured to control the amplification unit for transmissionof the first packet with a transmission power corresponding to thecommunication in the shorter range than the set range, when the receivedsecond packet includes the information associated with the communicationin the shorter range than the set range.
 2. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine thatan external electronic device having transmitted the received secondpacket approaches in the shorter range than the set range, when thereceived second packet includes the information associated withcommunication in the shorter range than the set range.
 3. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured togenerate the first packet including the information associated withcommunication in the shorter range than the set range, when the receivedsecond packet includes the information associated with communication inthe shorter range than the set range.
 4. The electronic device of claim1, wherein, based on a result of determining whether the transmissionpacket is a packet to be transmitted in an ultra-short range that isshorter than the range set for the short-range communication, thecontroller is further configured to control the amplification unit totransmit the first packet with the transmission power lowered to aminimum value enabling transmission in the ultra-short range.
 5. Theelectronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to control the amplification unit to set the transmissionpower of the first packet based on previously stored transmissionstrength information, when the information associated with communicationin the shorter range than the set range is included in the receivedpacket.
 6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the received secondpacket is an advertising packet.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the information is included in a Packet Data Unit (PDU) typefield included in a packet header.
 8. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the controller is further configured to control a transmissionpower by turning on or off the amplification unit.
 9. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured tocontrol the transmission power of the first packet by controlling anamplification strength of the amplification unit with at least oneamplification gain selected from among a plurality of amplificationgains.
 10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the controller isfurther configured to select the at least one amplification gaindifferently for each transmission.
 11. The electronic device of claim10, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a distanceover which transmission of the first packet is possible based on thedifferent at least one amplification gain.
 12. An electronic devicecomprising: a communication unit configured to transmit and receive apacket for short-range communication; an amplification unit configuredto amplify a transmission power of a transmission packet to betransmitted through the communication unit; and a controller configuredto incorporate information associated with communication in a shorterrange than a range set for short-range communication into thetransmission packet and to control the amplification unit fortransmission of the transmission packet with a transmission powercorresponding to the communication in the shorter range than the setrange.
 13. A method for recognizing an electronic device, the methodcomprising: transmitting a first packet including information associatedwith communication in a shorter range than a range that is set forshort-range communication or receiving a second packet transmitted withlow energy; determining a distance to the electronic device whichtransmits the received second packet, based on the informationassociated with the communication in the shorter range than the setrange, when the information associated with the communication in theshorter range than the set range is included in the received secondpacket; and controlling a transmission power to transmit the firstpacket to be transmitted over the determined distance.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising determining that the electronic devicewhich transmits the received second packet is located in proximity inthe shorter range than the set range, when the received second packetincludes the information associated with the communication in theshorter range than the set range.
 15. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising generating the first packet including the informationassociated with the communication in the shorter range than the setrange, when the received second packet includes the informationassociated with the communication in the shorter range than the setrange.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising, based on a resultof determining whether the first packet is a packet to be transmitted inan ultra-short range that is shorter than the range set for theshort-range communication, transmitting the first packet with thetransmission power lowered to a minimum value enabling transmission inthe ultra-short range.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprisingsetting the transmission power of the first packet based on previouslystored transmission strength information, when the informationassociated with the communication in the shorter range than the setrange is included in the received second packet.
 18. The method of claim13, wherein the received second packet is an advertising packet.
 19. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the information is included in a Packet DataUnit (PDU) type field included in a packet header.
 20. The method ofclaim 13, wherein controlling the transmission power comprisescontrolling the transmission power by turning on or off an amplificationunit.
 21. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the transmissionpower comprises controlling the transmission power of the first packetby controlling an amplification strength of the amplification unit withat least one amplification gain selected from among a plurality ofamplification gains.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprisingselecting the at least one amplification gain differently for eachtransmission.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising determininga distance over which transmission of the first packet is possible basedon the at least one different amplification gain.
 24. A method forrecognizing an electronic device, the method comprising: incorporatinginformation associated with communication in a shorter range than arange set for short-range communication into a transmission packet to betransmitted; controlling a transmission strength to transmit thetransmission packet with a transmission power corresponding to thecommunication in the shorter range than the set range; and determiningthat an electronic device which transmits a response is located in theshorter range than the set range, upon receiving the response to thetransmission packet.
 25. An electronic device comprising: acommunication module configured to perform short-range communication;and a controller configured to control the communication module totransmit at least one first signal for advertising with a firsttransmission strength and to control the communication module totransmit at least one second signal with a second transmission strengththat is lower than the first transmission strength, wherein the secondsignal comprises information associated with the second transmissionstrength.
 26. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein thecommunication module comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.27. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the informationassociated with the second transmission strength is included in a headerof a Packet Data Unit (PDU) included in the second signal.
 28. Theelectronic device of claim 25, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to control the communication module to transmit a thirdsignal with a third transmission strength that is lower than the secondtransmission strength when the at least one first signal or the at leastone second signal is not transmitted, and information associated withthe third transmission strength is included in a header of a PDUincluded in the third signal.
 29. The electronic device of claim 28,wherein the controller is further configured to control pairing with anexternal electronic device in response to reception of the third signal,when determining through the communication module that the third signalis received with the second transmission strength from the externalelectronic device.
 30. An electronic device comprising: a communicationmodule configured to receive at least one first signal and at least onesecond signal for advertising, and to perform short-range communication;and a controller configured to control the communication module toreceive the second signal when the first signal is not received, whereinthe first signal comprises information associated with a firsttransmission strength and the second signal comprises informationassociated with a second transmission strength.
 31. The electronicdevice of claim 30, wherein the controller is further configured tocontrol pairing with an external electronic device which transmits thesecond signal in response to reception of the second signal, whendetermining through the communication module that the second signal hasbeen received.
 32. The electronic device of claim 30, wherein thecontroller is further configured to control the communication module totransmit at least one third signal with the second transmission strengthin response to reception of the second signal, when determining throughthe communication module that the second signal has been received. 33.The electronic device of claim 30, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to control the communication module to receive at least onethird signal having a third transmission strength that is lower than thefirst transmission strength and is higher than the second transmissionstrength, when the first signal or the second signal is not received,and information associated with the third transmission strength isincluded in a header of a Packet Data Unit (PDU) included in the thirdsignal.